As soon as the reader sets eyes on the chapter, they are greeted with the simple word of ‘London’. Although this doesn’t amount to much at first, at second glance it very powerful as it sets the scene for the novel, let alone the opening. It seems as if Dickens wants the reader to brace themselves for the explosion of descriptive language he uses to describe the atmosphere, hence it sounds almost like a statement as if to say that, that is his opinion of London at the time and he wants the reader to respect that.
Dickens creates this dirty, unusual image of ‘black drizzle’ and ‘flakes of soot’, which seems to be mirrored onto the people as they are described as having ‘a general infection of ill-temper’ meaning that their temper is almost like a disease that spreads rapidly from one person to the other.. Here Dickens creates this bleak, miserable place where no-one seems to be happy. This gives the overall opening a miserable feel, which I feel just adds more insult to injuring on the already deteriorating city.
Furthermore Dickens creates this overwhelming atmosphere with the continuous repetition of ‘fog’. It almost seems as if this ‘fog’ is taking over everything. This is particular highlighted when the fog is juxtaposed to the ‘green aits and meadows’. The ‘green aits and meadows’ are clean, but it seems to capitulate under the dirty fog. This shows a sense of overpowering, which is metaphorically related to the ‘Chancery’ as they are overpowering and are corrupting the city making it look ugly and dirty. There greed is embedded into them so much, that they want to take over what ever is left, even whatever is green and fresh. Dickens even personifies the fog by saying that it ‘cruelly pinches’. He makes this atmosphere he is trying to create look like poison, something that has no mercy and is relentless in its attack until it satisfies itself.
Although Dickens message is strong and clear, he makes biblical references to enhance his meaning. He says that ‘the city has been stripped of water’. Water in biblical terms gives life, this city has no life it is completely dead, hence Dickens uses negative diction to describe it. He finally says that there will be justice in ‘the sight of heaven and earth’ showing that He still has faith and all of this dirt and darkness that is covering the city will clear one day to become light again.
Throughout the opening of ‘Bleak House’ Dickens makes it an extended metaphor, maybe because of the context that it is written in, he fears for his life, so he decides to change the humans into fog and personifies it, getting clear his message. In some parts of the opening he creates this indication of hope, but it is overshadowed by the corruption of the Chancery’s, hence all signs of hope such as light and green grass are dead and are filled with the corruption of man, which never wants to go away.